Desk tray



April 62 E. c. BULLOCK 3,028,975

DESK TRAY Filed July 27, 1960 INVENTOR E/MLE C. BULLOCK BY aw ATTORNEYS 3,028,975 Patented Apr. 10, 1962 3,028,975 DESK TRAY Earle C. Bullock, Grand Rapids, Mich, assiguor to Steelcase, Inc, Grand Rapids, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed July 27, 1960, Ser. No. 45,598 6 Claims. (Cl. 211-126) This invention relates to a desk tray, and more particularly to a desk tray construction in which the trays can be used individually or stacked one above the other.

Previously multiple tier desk trays have taken many forms of construction. However, the previous construetions have all encountered the basic problem of rigidly supporting the upper tray over the lower tray. Since the upper tray must often support several pounds of weight, it must be adequately supported to properly perform its function. Proper spacing and support of the multiple desk trays can be obtained by rigidly securing the trays to a support element by means such as welding or screw fasteners. This arrangement is satisfactory if the desk trays are to be used only in the multiple tray arrangement; however, if the desk tray assembly is to be one where the trays can be used individually as well as in a stacked manner, this arrangement is not desirable.

The invention disclosed herein provides for a desk tray assembly wherein the upper desk tray is supported above the lower desk tray by a joining or connecting plate which provides for more than adequate support for the upper tray. Also, the multiple tray arrangement can be disassembled in a matter of seconds and the upper and lower trays used individually. This is possible since the connector plate is so constructed and arranged as to receive the upper tray in a snap-in fashion, and the connector plate which is supported by the bottom tray can be removed by merely lifting the plate from its contact with the tray. The bottoms of the trays are provided with protector pads or buttons so that each in-, dividual tray may be set upon the desk top without fear of damaged to the finish of the desk.

It is an object of this invention to provide a stacked desk tray arrangement wherein the upper desk tray or trays are rigidly supported over the lower trays.

Another object of this invention is to provide a multiple tier desk tray arrangement which can be readily assembled and disassembled to provide use of the trays individually or in a stacked arrangement.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel connector plate for supporting one desk tray above another.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a connector plate which engages both the closed ends and side edges of the desk trays to provide a rigid support for the spaced tray arrangement.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent upon reading the specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the desk tray assembly.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of FIG. 1 shown in section.

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the desk tray assembly showing the upper tray in phantom.

This invention relates basically to a desk tray arrangement wherein the bottom tray supports a plate which in turn supports another desk tray in spaced relation with respect to said first mentioned tray. The connector plate has a back portion which engages one face of the closed end of the tray, and has side flanges formed integrally therewith which abut the sides of the tray. An auxiliary plate is secured to the connector plate and has foot and leg portions which overlie a section of the connector plate and side flanges respectively. The foot and leg portions of the auxiliary plate are offset from the connector plate back and side flanges and provide an opening therebetween. The end and side portions of the desk tray fit in the opening formed between the connector plate back and side flanges and the auxiliary plate foot and leg portions, and are sandwiched therebetween. The tray thus supports the connector plate in an upright position. The top edge of the connector plate back is turned inwardly to form a lip. The upper portion of the auxiliary plate is also turned inwardly to form a shelf. The upper edge of the closed end of a desk tray fits under the lip, and the bottom thereof rests upon the shelf which provides a rigid support for the tray in stacked relationship with respect to the other tray.

FIG. 1 shows the desk tray assembly which is designated generally as It). The assembly 10 includes the lower or first tray designated generally as 11, the upper or second tray designated generally as 24 and the connector plate which is designated generally as 30.

Referring now specifically to the details of the invention, FIGS. 1 and 3 best show the lower tray 11. The tray 11 has a rectangular shaped bottom 12 to which sides 13 and 14 and end 15 are rigidly secured. The opposite end of the tray 11 is open to receive letters and the like. The sides 13 and 14 are tapered downwardly from the closed end toward the open end of the tray to facilitate placing material in the tray from the sides as well as from the open end. The exposed edges of the tray 11 may be turned over or crimped to strengthen the trav and prevent a sharp exposed edge.

The bottom of the tray is provided with felt pads or buttons 16 (FIG. 1) to prevent the bottom of the tray from marring or injuring the finish on a desk top. A button 16 is secured to each of the four corners of the tray bottom. The bottom of the tray may be raised at the points at which the buttons are secured to provide greater clearance between the tray and the table, and act as a positioning and supporting surface for the buttons.

The upper tray 20 is similar to the lower tray 11, except that it may be made a little shorter as shown in FIG. 1. Shortening of the upper tray 20 makes it easier to withdraw papers from the lower tray 13. The upper tray 29 has a bottom 21, sides 22 and 23, and an end 24. The sides 22 and 23 and end 24 are secured to the bottom by means of welding or in some other well known manner. The sides 22 and 23 are tapered in a manner similar to sides 13 and 14 to facilitate use, and the edges may also be crimped. The bottom of the upper tray 20 is provided with pads or buttons 25 so that the tray may be used as an individual tray.

The connector plate 30 is a generally rectangular memher having a back 31 and side flanges 33 and 34. The back 31 is of approximately the same length as the tray end 15. The side flanges 33 and 34 are formed. integral with the back 31 and project transversely from the opposite ends thereof. The side flanges 33 and 34 are dimensioned so as to lie adjacent the sides of the desk trays 11 and 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The upper edge of back 31 is turned over and inwardly to form a hook-like lip 32. It extends throughout substantially the entire length of the plate back 31.

Secured to the connector plate back 31 is an auxiliary plate 35. The auxiliary 35 has a foot portion 40 which 30 in a manner so that the offset point 39 appears above the bottom edge of back 31. This provides an opening 43 between the lower edge of back 31 and foot 40, and between the side flanges 33 and 34 and the legs 42 and 41 respectively. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the end 15 of the lower tray 11 is positioned within the opening 43, and is sandwiched or clamped between the back 31 and the foot 40 and the side flanges and legs of the connector plate and auxiliary plate respectively. Thus, the lower tray 11 supports the connector plate 30 in an upright manner by this connection. It can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 that the foot 49 and legs 41 are of sufiicient length so that the ends thereof engage the bottom 12 of the lower tray. With this arrangement, the Weight of the upper tray 26 is transferred not only to the back 15 of the lower tray but also to the bottom 12 which provides for a better support.

The upper edge of auxiliary plate 35 is formed at an angle transverse to the auxiliary plate 35 and connector plate 30, forming a shelf 36. The shelf 36 is of substantially the same length as the back 31. It is provided with semicircular shaped reliefs 37 and 38 which allow for positioning of the pads 25 when the upper tray 29 is assembled to the connector plate 30 in a manner now to be described.

Assembly The assembly and disassembly of the desk tray unit is extremely simple and can be accomplished in a very short time.

To erect the desk tray assembly 16 the connector plate 30 is positioned on the lower tray 11 in a manner so that the end 15 and portions of the side 13 and 14 extend within the opening 43. The connector plate 30 is then pressed downwardly until the foot 40 and leg portions 41 and 42 engage the lower tray bottom 12. The connector plate 30 is now secured in position.

The upper tray 23 is assembled to the connector plate 30 by placing the upper edge of end 24 underneath the lip 32, and rotating the tray 20 in a clockwise position (as viewed in FIG. 2) until the end 24 rests firmly against the back 31 and the bottom 21 rests upon shelf 36. The shelf 36 is positioned with respect to the lip 32 such that the end 24 of tray 20 is clamped between the shelf 36 and the interior of the lip 32.

The desk tray assembly is disassembled in the reverse manner. The tray 20 is merely rotated in a counter-clockwise direction until the bottom 21 clears the shelf 36, and the upper edge of end 24 withdrawn from lip 32. The connector plate 30 is removed from the bottom tray by merely lifting upwardly until the upper portion of end clears the opening 43.

If it is desired to use the trays 15 and as individual trays, the connector plate 30 can be stored until it is desired to again use the trays in the stacked arrangement.

It can be seen that the desk tray assembly disclosed herein provides a multiple tier desk tray arrangement which can be readily assembled and disassembled. The trays can be used individually or in a stacked arrangement. The connector plate is constructed so as to provide the maximum support for the upper tray. The foot and leg portions of the auxiliary plate secured to the connector plate transfer the load of the upper tray not only to the end of the lower tray but also to the bottom, providing for maximum rigidity. The connector plate is constructed so that the upper tray may be snapped into position in a matter of seconds. Also, the connector plate can be secured to the lower tray in a matter of seconds.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described, it will be understood that other modifications and improvements may be made thereto. Such of these modifications and improvements as incorporate the principles of this invention are to be considered as included in the hereinafter appended claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

I claim:

1. A desk tray assembly comprising, a first desk tray adapted to rest on the surface of a desk and having an open end to receive letters and the like, a unitary connector plate including means for removably securing said plate to the end of said first desk tray; a second desk tray similar to said first desk tray, and support means formed on said connector plate including structure for snap on reception of said second desk tray, said second desk tray being removably supported in a position above said first desk tray solely by said unitary connector plate thereby forming a multiple tier tray assembly.

2. A desk tray assembly comprising; a lower desk tray adapted to rest on the surface of a desk and having an open end to receive letters and the like, a unitary connector plate means including an auxiliary plate means ofi'set from said connector plate and forming an opening therebetween, an end of said tray fitting within said opening and being clamped between said connector and auxiliary plate means to support said connector plate in an upright position, lip means formed on said connector plate means, and shelf means formed on said auxiliary plate and being spaced from said lip means; and an upper desk tray similar to said lower tray and having the end thereof releasably held between said lip means and said shelf means and being secured to said connector plate means thereby, said connector plate means supporting said upper tray over said lower tray in stacked relationship.

3. A multiple tier desk tray comprising: a first desk tray having a bottom, sides and an open and a closed end; a second desk tray similar to said first desk tray; a unitary connector plate for supporting said second tray over said first tray and having back and side flanges; an auxiliary plate secured to said connector plate and having foot and leg portions, said foot and leg portions of said auxiliary plate being offset from said connector plate and forming an opening between the back and side flanges of said connector plate; the sides and closed end of one of said trays fitting in said opening and supporting said connector plate in an upright position; said auxiliary plate having a shelf for supporting the bottom of said second tray, and said connector plate having a lip overlying said shelf and engaging the closed end of said second tray, said second tray being snapped between said lip and shelf and supported thereby.

4. A multiple tier desk tray as in claim 3 wherein said foot and leg portions of said auxiliary plate are of a length so that the end edges thereof rest on the bottom of said first tray to provide adequate support for said connector plate and said second tray.

5. A connector plate adapted to be used with a multiple tier desk tray assembly comprising, a connector plate having a back and side flanges formed at an angle thereto, the upper edge of said plate being turned in forming a hook-like lip; an auxiliary plate secured to said connector plate, said auxiliary plate having a foot and leg portions overlying at least a portion of said connector plate back and side flanges but being offset therefrom and forming an opening therebetween, the end and side portions of a desk tray being adapted to be inserted in said opening and encompassed by said connector and auxiliary plates, said auxiliary plate having a shelf projecting transversely therefrom and positioned below the lip on said connector plate; said lip being adapted to engage the end edge of another tray and the shelf being adapted to support the bottom of said other tray.

6. A desk tray assembly comprising: a first desk tray adapted to rest on the surface of a desk and having an upstanding closed end and an open end to receive letters and the like; a unitary connector plate including means for removably securing said plate to the upstanding closed end of said first desk tray, said connector plate extending upwardly from the closed end of said first desk tray; a lip extending from said connector plate in a direction toward the open end of said first desk tray and then downwardly; shelf means formed on said auxiliary plate and extending therefrom toward the open end of said first tray, said shelf means being spaced a distance downwardly from said lip, said distance being substantially equal to the height of the closed end of said first desk; at second desk tray similar to said first tray and having the bottom edge of its closed end resting on said shelf means and the top edge thereof inserted between the main body of the connectorplate and the downwardly extended portion of the lip whereby said second desk tray is releasably held between said lip and said'shelf in a position spaced above said first desk tray.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

